Building construction



Filed Dec. 14. 1929 Sept. 20, 1932.

Sept 20" 1932' I Y FfBl-:Mls y 1,878,367

d BUILDINGKcoNsTRUcTIoN' I Filed nec. 14. 1929" s sheets-sheer 2 Sept- Z, l1932- A. F. BEMls l1,878,367 l BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 14. 1929 f5 ysmms-sxwm; s

f-*zmrhff a @if .fa i f1 1 y f Pf ff/ r11/0V Il' l Z Sept. 20, 1932.

A. F. BEMLS BUILDING CQNSTRUC'IIONy Filed D00. 14. 1929 lfsm Law

NBN

. u Y Mfg d v z w 4 M Y. e v A .S\ 5% 4 NN Ku Ku. 1 @hv .NNW t i v ufl) 4` NNN NNN- EN l i BN. \.NN| W .WH-@QN A v1 p `m| Ll a o n. n e o a o o o o n L b h n o d .I 05m o o o o o o o o o o o o 9 o o: zo vm o w my mv o o o mum@ o o m I 0 o a o O o \t o n \0 n o o 0 b l FQ .EN l w Patented Sept. 20, 1932 ALBERT F. ism/iis, or NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS, AssIGNoR-'To BEMIs INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED, or. BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE L BUILDING CONSTRUCTION l Application ii'ied nec-enter i4, i929, sriai 110.414.956. Y

This invention relates to an improved method of building construction'and result` ing products, and'involves the employment of parts that are manufactured inquantities and which do 'not require cutting-in situ, and greatly facilitates the construction of dwelling housesk or thevlike, while not precluding versatility in design or necessitating av stand'- ardized or stereotyped appearance; Some aspects of the presenti invention are further developments of the subject matter disclosedand claimed in myfprior application', Serial No. 280,926, filed-Mayet, i929.

Mass? production-fofrmost fabricated arti#l cles of daily use has become almost-"universal and their cost yconsequently has' been reduced,

often with an increasev inaccuracy of construction, dueto the eiiiciencies of large scale production. On theotlier hand, the desir-` i L ability of individuality and distinctiveness in the appearance of buildings and particularly of framedwellings has causedthe general retention of substantiallytlie same methods as have beenemployed for generations, thus requiring much laborious cutting and fitting of individual parts and the vlike to secure the dev siredvariation yin design.l Thus the "cost of home construction has tendedv to rise in'relation -to'that of most fabricated articles, 'and consequently Vthe expenditure lfor shelterv forms a larger proportion -oftheav-erage in` dividuals living `expenses than heretofore.

The primary, object -ofthe present invention is to lessen or eliminate this discrepancy between the cost of buildings, such as the type that has Ordinarily been characterized by wooden frames, and that of other fabricatedurements of determine whether or not houses PATENT-- of widely varying` typeshave been `(lconl i structed in accordancewith my method Or the inelicient methods 'heretofore employed;

The ,present invention reduces the cost 'of materials and labor vin erecting `building structures bypermitting mass production 'of frame memberssucli as columns, posts,"'girts,

joists, and studs which are capable of combination without further cutting and fitting to c form substantially any building design with out requiring alteration inthe process of erection, and which `facilitates the assembly of the parts of thebuildingframe and permits the use of standardized forms or `slabsiinlaying the foundations Without sacrificing latitude in the choice of' size landvshape, thei v ready employment of doors and windows in a convenient range of sizes, as well as the gen-` eral employment of vpreformed*structural or kiinish elements, such as slabs, panels, tiles,

lathingr sections and the like, to lthe end of minimizing the cost Of materials and labor of erection while `facilitating' accuracyof const-ruction.` `According to this invention, theprimary frame members such as girts,'sills,posts, `col-,. umns, and the likefmay be manufactured with a determined interdimensional relation- 1 usi ship, being provided with uniform m'eans'tol facilitateA their connection to each other upon assembly, `which may, for example, com-- proper arrangement of parts such as door and y window frames .and ofpecondary framel elements such as studs or jists. The latter may' also have a dimensionali',relationship Ito the primary Or main structurall members such prise connecting brackets and* may be formed i asathe 'girts, whichfcorresponds to and is-de- 1 a Vpendent upon general interdimei'isionalre-Ey -lationship ofthe primary or mainframe members, so that these parts may also-be preformed and fitted and connected with the primary elements without necessity for' cut-l ting iii-situ. M f' 'i In the accompanying drawings: i

FiO. 1 is a plan view of a building frame showmg the arrangement of elongate members such as girts disposed between posts to provide an irregular iioor plan;

Fig: 2-is an elevational view showing the arrangement of atypical girt and posts at the ends of the same;

Fig. 3 is a similar view of the arrangement of a ypost between the ends of -two girts;

i but showing the adaptation of the principles apo of this invention to somewhat diierent structural arrangements;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of' a typical arrangement of girts and joists or the like; i Fig. 7 lis aplanview of apbuilding frame or showing another arrangement of girtsandV posts; Fig. -8 isa perspectiveview of a part oa structuralframe and wall which may be arranged in accordance with the arrangement shownin Fig. 7: Y

Fig. 9 is a. plan viewof a portion of the wall structure as shown in Fig. 7 showing the arrangement ofthe parts in greater detail;

Fig. 10 isa view partly in elevation and partly Vin section 'ofthe lwall disclosed in Fighl is an elevational detail of the juncture of apost and two aligned girts; 'l

Fig. 12 isa perspective view of a portion of a irt and stud;

ig. 13 yis a similar view of a bracket for connectinga girt to a joist;

Fig. 14 is a broken perspective detail of a wall slab or panel; and t Fig.115,is a perspectivek view of a portion of a stud.

The principles ofv my invention maybe applied to building constructions having rooms of various types, for example, with the elongate primary members such as girts disv herein.

posedupon brackets extending from the vertical posts or columns and withthe latter arranged ,at the ends of the girts,..with the` girts extendinginto recesses inthe posts or Fig, 1 l.is a diagrammatic,representation of5 the frame ofahouse having an 1rregular floor plan andprovided with rooms G, H, I,

J, L andO, they latter-v providing a bay extending from one sidey of the house. The

posts .are designated in general by the symbol and are arranged atthe corners or intersections of Awall portions of the frame. As shown, the frame adjoining the room O may be provided with lfive girts numbered 1, 2,;3,

4 and 5, respectively, the.` girts 1,'4and 5^ 'adjoining parts of the 'structural members.

forming a portion of the framework Q the relationships f set forth outer walls of the house, the girt 2 defining the partition between the rooms O and L, the girt 3 forming a partof the wall structure between rooms O and I. Elongate primaryfra-ine members 6 and 7 are disposed at the outer ends of rooms J and L, which are separated from each other by' thejpartition girt 9 and are separated from the room H by girts 11 and 12. The room VJ is also proy vvided -with anotherwall portion that forms Figs..,4 and 5 are View similar toFig. 8',

" forms a partof the partition separating the room Lfroin one end of room I Rooms H and `I are separated from each other byy a frame including the member 17, and the -girts 18 and 19 are disposed at the remote endsr of .these rooms, while girts 20 and; 21 separatethemfrom the room G, the other .threesidesof the latter being defined by members `23,24 and 25. n

v Ordinarily the .employment-of an irregular Hoor plan'ofthe character illustrated would entail thecutting or special -itting of some ofthe intermediate girts l1, 12, 15, 3, 20, 21, or the like.'A I -have discovered, however, vthat the partsmayhave an yinterdimensional .relationship withV one 'another so that the-.frame members lmay be disposed to provide substantially any room layout with-vari,-

Tol permitthis desirable result, the elongate framemembers or girts may conveniently be made todiiier in length from each other by ay multiple of a predetermined modular dimension M, this 4dimension being chosen to permit `the graduation of room dimensions by relatively small amounts, such for example as 4, 6, 8 `or 10 inches, and also being chosen ous numbers,ofintermediatev walls between to be ofthe orderof the desired thickness of the structural wallportions, and particular-k` ly vofthe intermediate `structural walls. Thus, for` example, let us` assume that a module of 8 inches is chosen as vcomplying with the` above requirements; vthen *each of theelongate primary frame members, such as girts, isprovided with alength which may differ fromthat .of other similarmembers by anintegra'l multiple of 8 inches in other words,.the preformed girts may be manu-factured in lengths whichare equal to different multiples of the module'M plus a determined constant K, the latter being a dimension less than 8 inches'.

Figs. 1, 2 and villustrate the application of these principles to building frames having uniform 'l connecting .arrangements 'between the' posts and girts; for "example, structuralmembers such as posts may beprovided with brackets Bgwhichrhold the frame members such as girts inspaced relationship to the For convenience of `explanation I hereinafter refer to the'uniform distances'at which theends of the girts are spaced from the posts as being represented by the symbol C, and the cross-sectional dimension of the post which is disposed at or between the ends ofthe girts as represented by the symbol IV.'

I have found that the proper proportioning of the dimensions M, K, C and WI permits the use of the elongate frame members Without necessity.4 for cutting to special lengths. The general relationship which permits this desirable result may be conveniently stated by the formula 2C+K+VV=an integral multiple of M, (it beingunderstood that in certain applications of the invention C and/or K may equal Zero, and the multiple may be one). Thus, for example, the lengths of the various outer and intermediate girts shown in Fig. l may each be equal to K plus an integral multiple of M, K being a dimension chosen to conform with the above formula; thus, for example, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention K may be 3 inches, the cross-sectional dimension ofthe adjoining part'of the post havingbeen dimensioned as 3 1/2 inches, andthe clearance dimension C having been made .3@ of an inch. Thus the dimensions being substituted in the formula 2C+K+IV==an integral multiple of M, t-he following equation will result:

- The various modular dimensions of the girts in the floor plan illustrated yin Fi g. `l are indicated adjoining the corresponding meinbers, and it is evident that despite the' irregular layout of the rooms and partitions that girts of standardizedlengthy may be em-v sired, be provided witha structural thickness 1 greater thanthat of the `intermediate walls so that their centre planes will not be;I modularly spaced. l

Fig. 4 illustrates a somewhat.y different manner of connecting the girts and post. In this` case girts 30 and 31 have extensions 0r tongues 32 and 33 which are disposedy in recesses 34 in the post P1, In this figure the girts are illust-rated asbeing in direct engagement with theV intervening.. part ofthe post so that there is no clearance and so that the dimension C'equals zero, thek dimension W being the distance between the inner ends oft-he recesses, M being chosen 'as before. It is evident that the dimensions of the parts, when arranged `in themanner illustrated in Fig.' Lgmay still'readily be chosen to comply with the .formula 2C -I- K -l- W= an integral multipleof M," and it will be found that this arrangement could be employed' with equal 'facility inpermitting practically any desired wall layout. The constant Kmay be va dimensionwhich `is smaller than the depth of one ofthetongues 32 and 33 orgreater than the same.

" Fig.'5 illustrates'another possible arrangeyment for connecting the girts and posts wherein the connecting elements 36extend e outwardly beyond'the post and hold t-hein spaced relation thereto, whilel having their opposite ends received in recessesn37within the post. In thisl embodiment of the' invention the distance between the inner' portions of the recesses may determine the cross-sectional dimension WV, 'and the vclearance dimension C may be chosen as the space between the end ofthe girtand the inner wall of theadjoining recess. When this type of connection 1s employedand the parts are proportioned 'to comply with the formula 2C K IV: an integral multiple Aof M,` the same advantageous relationship `of the parts `may be maintained.

Not only are the principles of this invention applicable vto the vwhich may be employed with the girts proriding ledges to support the ends `of intervenlng frame members such as josts 40.1' If the frame' is proportioned andjrer'ected to conform with the interdimensional principles setv forth above, the same general relationship may be readily'attaine'd in conjunction with the joistsor the like, these members also differing in length from each otherby amultiple of the module M. For example, the equation 2c+fw+7c=an integral multiple ofM is applicable to the dimensioning of the secondary members such as joistsin conjunction'wi'th the vadjoining dimensional portions of the girts or the like. Thus w represents the cross-sectional vdimension of the girt, cthe clearance space between this portionof the same and the end ofthe joist, and ,t thereonstantwhich is added to an integral multiple of M in determining the lengths of each ofthe joists; for example, ther dimension fw may :equal `21/2, the clearances may equall l/Q Eand may then equal 4% so that Furthermore, it is advantageous toprovide proportioning of the dimensions of the main or primary members of' theQbuilding but they are also advantageously employed in conjunction with the los the framemembers such as girts with repetitive means for connect-ingy the secondary frame 'elements such as studs and j oists'therethat is7 at multiples or'equal divisions of the same. For eXample,the connecting means may be spaced 1*/270 for the ends of the girts and spaced at dlstances of one module from each other; the resulting arrangement of the secondary frame members such as joists 40 is illustrated in Fig. 1, these members being spaced fromeach 'other at uniform distances which are multiples of thekmodule, i. e., two M, and the end joists being spaced l-c ,or 1M+'1/71 from the ends of the corresponding girts,vand being so disposed as to permit the arrangement of'a post. at any determined point. lThus the placing ofthe secondary frame members is'facilitated, and itis not necessary to providea special arrangement of the same 'when a'post 1s disposed between the ends of aligned girts, as'exemplified, for

example, by the post between girts 20 and`23 0r between girts 12 and15. vSimilarly the arrangement of the secondary frame members which are disposed ina planeat right angles to that of the load bearing members is also facilitated.

Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 illustrate a somewhat different arrangement of framemembers and the application of this invention to one defi- Vnite type of building lconstruction such as is 'disclosed and claimed in my copending application, Ser. No. L114,350 filed on even` date herewith; Fig. 7 shows abuilding having an irregular room layout, the rooms S and T occupying4 one' side ofthe building, and the room R having va ylength corresponding to that of both of the rooms S and T. The girts and 5l separate rooms Sand T from room R, and the girt 53 parallel to members 50 and 51 'defines the opposite wall of room R while girts 55 and 56 extend along 4its ends. The members 58 and 59 are aligned with girts 55 and' 56 respectively and define the outer ends of rooms S and T while their sides, which are remote' from room R are'provi ded with girts 60l and 61 andthe girt 63 is disposed between these rooms. l The posts are designated in general by the reference character P and Athe various dimensions of thegirts are designated adjoining the same. Thus for example the girts 50 and 60 may have lengths of 13 modules plus a constant K'(which may have'any value from O to a module M) the girts 51and 61 may have a length of 17 modules plus K, while the girt53 has a length of 32 modules plus K.

It is to be understood that the principles of this invention may be employed when 2C+K+'W=1M, 2M 0r any integral multiple of M. Forexample in the embodiment of the invention illustrated -in Fig. 2CiW+K=2M- I Fig. 8*shows,structuraldetails of a building, such as is disclosed and claimed in my vcopending application Ser, No. 414,350, filed on even date herewith to which the principles of this invention may be applied. Posts P of this frame, in the illustrative example here given are equilateral. cross-sectionand are provided with outstanding flanges disposed at the corners of an intermediate square lportion 66 and being located atangles of 135 'away at the ends of the girts to permit bracket plates09aL to .be placed in alignment therewith; these plates preferably extend outwardly beyond the end of the girt and have lips 09 formed integrally therewith. The edges of the vplates 72 are preferably secured as by weldingto the channels 174 which form the vert-ical walls of these frame members.

The legs of the channels and the juxtaposed edges ofthe plates cooperate in providing outstanding horizontal flanges 75 upon the girts.' The plates 73 may be provided with' a plurality of intermediate openings which `are spaced in accordance Awith the modular dimensioning of the Iparts while the flanges 75 may be provided 4with openings 78 and/oi` havebrackets fsecured thereto which are also spaced at modular distances or multiples ofthe same from each other. Thus forexample brackets 85 (Figs. 8 and 13) may be provided with a ldepending portion adapted toI receive the ends of ioists 86 and with outstanding Vflanges' 87vhaving openings 88 to register with the openingsk in the flanges 75 so that fthe brackets are readily secured to the upper-flanges ofthe girts. Since the openings 88 are symmetrically disposed in relation to the brackets 85, joists 86 will have their center lines disposed substantially onehalf way between the modularly spaced openings 78. t n l The vertical frame elements or studs 95 (Fig. 15) vleach vcomprise apair of similar spaced channel portion 96 with flangesg97 extending outwardly from the legs of the channel portions in a direction at right angles to the planeofl the wall inwhich the studs are"incorporated. n The.- upper and lower ends of the channels 96 are joined to Aplates 98 kwhich may beprovided with suitableopenings 108 to register with openings 78 at opposite sides of the girt and to receive fastening elements to permit the connection of thefstuds 6 the edges of wall plates 100 whichmay also engage the recesses provided by adjoining flanges 65 upon posts P. The wallslabs'or plates 100 may convenientlycomprise an intermediate sheet or board of insulating ma- 10 terial 101 and rectangular marginal frames.

103 extending'outw'ardlybeyond the edge of the board 101 to provide'marginal` grooves 104. Preferably the bight portionsof chan-y nels 96 are provided with openings 112 which register with thevertical grooves 104 4upon the adjoining wall plates. The legs of channels 96 and the flanges 97 provide angleportions at each side of-the stud adjoining the face of the structural wall, which receivethe edges of nailing strips 114. If desired, suit-4 able openings 115 may lbe provided in the flanges 97 to receive fastening element-s such as nails 117 that hold thel strips 114 in place. -Each of the girts obviously provides a trough-like portion into which ceinentitious material may be pouredl through the openings in the upper plate 72, this cementitious material passing downwardly through openings 80 in the lower plate of each girt into the groove at the upperedgeof the wall plate 100 or into a vertical'r'ecess provided by the channels 96 and boards 114 of a stud 95, as the case may be. From this recess the cementit-ious material may `flow through openings 112 into the corresponding groove104 so that each of the studs is reinforced by poured ce`` inentitious material vwhich has a keying en:- gagement with marginal recesses of the adjoining wall plates, While the horizontal mar-y gins of the plates also may similarlybe keyed to the horizontal frame members orgirts. To permit the application of the principles of this invention toV albui'lding construction' that M equals four inches, that the crosssectional dimension W` of the post "is 'four and one-half inches, that'C-as" determined by the construction of brackets 67 and bracket plates 69 and by the necessary mechanical considerations equals one-quarterginch and accordingly thatK equals three inches in order to meet the requirements of the fformula QC-i-K-H/V-:a multiple of: M, i. 1e:

1/2+3l-41/2"=8` or 2M. `This modular relationship of the parts is particularly illustrated in Fig. 11, the openings 78 and 80, adjoining the ends of the girtsva're spaced 1/2 K from the same, and are vlocated at one module from `each other. Inasmuch as K cannot exceed one module the distances (1/2 K) between the end openings 78 and 80 and the ends of the members are lnot greater than 1A), M. It is tluis'evidentV that the joists 86 may be disposed at multiples of the module` from each other, as shown in Fig. 10, as for example-being 100/tite@ at four mdems msx; f

teen vinches center to center distancel from each other, while the wall plates 100 maybe provided in Widthsv which differ lfrom yeach other bythe module and may be'located -With ftheir edges in engagement ,with thestuds as shown.` `The openings 80 will then "register with the openings 109 and the recesses in the studs` to vpermit the pouring of, c ementitious material which may also. fill'the adjoining trough-like portion of the girt and thus `mayv provide a concrete frame member Lvvithfai met-al shell having cementitious 'extensions defined by units disposed within the wall.'

* Obviously the joists -86 may ybe" provided `in` a range ofi; standardized lengths which .differ Afrom .each other by 4multiples ofthe manner as modular dimension in thesame set forth with reference to 'Fig. 6`.v

The ydimen sional interrelationship of the parts of the building maybe applied to both may be provided in lengths which differ from each other by the modular 4dimension or multiples of the same, if desired, andthe openings in these' members for connectionto'the other, if desired.v v

fsb

their vertical and their horizontal dimensions, ifdesired. Thus thep'osts'and studs 'sie l (posts) and wall members "(studsias Wellv i asthe horizontal' structural members (girts) and horizontalwall or ioor members j o'ists) ,I as described in' the preceding paragraph, it

will be-evidentlv that the vplanes'ofeach ofthe` three sets of mutually perpendicular, ,horizf on'tal and vertical Walls are spaced at inte'- gral multples of the module as villustrated ingn'o'i Y Fig. y 2 and that thespace-matrices'between these planes corresponding to 'each room 'are ofone vnriodule on a side.

resolvable intogcubcs identicalindemensions y i of the-type just descr1b'ed,f1tmaybeassunied f 'f fexample in regard to Figs.v 7, 8,9 and `10 il'- I lustratehow the principle of the invention may be'appliedwhen isV greater thanthe module' and Figs. 1, 2 aiid 3 illustrateth'e employment'of the linvention when W is lessV equal M and Yso that the principles .ofv this inventionY may still readily be employed.

I claim Y 1. The new and vimproved of i building which involves quantity manufac-j ture of preformed building units and avoids, cutting in situ, which: comprises ,forming ,frame `members in a plurality of-lengths which differ from eachother by multiples of a predetermined module M, whereby frame`with the ends ofsaid` frame members funit'ormlyA disposed relative to the aforesaid cross-sectional partsof lthe structural meme ramemembers are develdpedof lengths equal to integral multiples of the module. M

plus a constant forming'structural members with aipredetermined cross sectional di-I f mension W, and then connecting vsaid trame and structural members into a building bers so that-2C k'plus K plus W equals an inf tegral multiple of M, the quantity C equalling thel spacing of a'frame member from the crosssectional part Lof theY structural member.

2. The method of taining as Specified in` intermediate frame members thereto by said connecting means.

a. The methodof mining @Specified in claim 1 involving further providing certain of said members ywith V,openings spaced from one another at multiplesof module M to vconnect intermediate yframe members such as studs or Vjoists,"fforming such intermediate frame members inlengths dileringbya multiple of module M,.positioning the mem-y bers having the mod'ularly spaced openings in parallel relation,and 'coupling said intermediate frame members .thereto by said .opengf. The new land improvedv method of building which involves `quantity manufae.- ture ofnpreformed building units to avoid cuttingor fashioning insitu, which comprises formingV structural members with cross-sectional dimensions W and primary frame members with cross-sectional dimen-` sions "w and lengths lwhichl differ from eaeh other by multiples of a module M, 'and thus mayeach have a length equal t'o an integral multiple of M\ plus a. constant K, I a'ositioning the primary frame andv structural'membersi with the 'ends of the former .juxtaposed to parts kofthe latter that havethecross-sectional dimension W, so that QC-tK-FVV. equalsl an integral multiple of module M,when C .equalsthe spacing betweenthe endof a prii mary frame member and the juxtaposed part of the structuralmember, forming.secondaryl frame members having lengths which v'differ by multiples of the module hl and the lengths of whichv -mayequal integral multiples of M plus a constant Ic, and providing uniformly spaced connecting means onA the'rv primary frame members, eouplingthe ends of the secondary members' to theprimary frame members in a uniformlmannerby said means,sothat Qcl-cfl-w equals an integral ymultiple of mdule M, when e equals the spacing ofthe end ofa secondary frame member from the 4juxtaposed part of a primary .frame .member .havingzthe cross-sectional dimension l e t v Y.

, 5. A building having walls made Vup of frame member spanning the .ldist-ancebetween structural membersin said parallel iframe portions, an intermediate ystructural member parallel to the structural members in said frame portions, and primary frame members at right angles to and spanning the distance between the intermediate structural member 'and structural members in said frame portions, uniform connecting means joining the frame members to thefstructural members, the frame members having lengths which-differ lfrom eachk other by equal mul-` tiples of a module M, so, that their respective lengths may be equal yto integral multiples of 'M plus a constantK, the intermediate structural memberhaving a portion between the adjacent ends of frame members, Vsaid portion havingV a. cross-sectional dimension W 'in the direction of length of the frame members, the parts being so proportioned that when C equalsvthe spacinv'of each of the frame members from said portion of the structural. member between the ends of said frame'members, 2C plus VY plus K equals an integral multiple of `6. A buildinglhaving vwallsmadeupof A.parallel frame" ortions'gincluding parallel .structural mem eraan lnate 'Primary75 Xml parallel frame.portions-,including parallel i structuralA members, ,an elongate primary frame member spanning-the distance between structural members in said parallel frame portions, an intermediate structural member 'parallelto the structural members inl said frame portions, and primary frame members` at right angles to and spanning the distance between the intermediate structural member and structural membersin said frame portions, uniform connecting meansjoining the frame members to the structural members, thev frame members having lengths which diiier from each votherby equal multiples of al module M ,so thattheir respective lengths may be equal to integral multiplesvof M plus a constant K, v the intermediate structural member having a portion between the adjav cent ends ofgprimary. Jframe members, said portionv having a cross-sectional dimension lV inthe direction .of length of the frame members, the members being so proportionedthat when C equals .the spacing of each of thel frame members from the cross-sectional dirmension of the structural member between the ends of said vframe members, 2C plus lV plus K equals an` integral multiple of M. connecting means upon ,said primary frame members spaced uniformly at multiples of M,

and secondary frame members extending between the primary frame members, and `uniforml coupled thereto by said means.

7. building having walls made up of parallel frame portions including parallel structural members, an elongate primary frame member spanning the distance between structural members in said parallel frame portions,`an intermediate structural member parallel to the structural. members inrsaid frame portions, and primary frame members at right angles to and spanning the distance between the intermediate structural member and structural members in said frame por-` tions, uniform connecting means joining the frame members to the structural members, the frame members having lengths which differ from each other by equal multiples of a module M, so that their respective lengths may be equal to integral multiples of Mplus a constant K, the intermediate structural member having a portion between the adja- .cent ends of primary frame members, said portions having a crosssectional dimension lV in the direction of length ofthe frame members, the members being so proportioned that when C equals the spacingof each of the frame members from they cross-sectional dimen sion ot the structural member between the V ends of said frame members, 2C plus lV plus K equals an integral multiple of M, connecting means upon said primary trame members `spaced uniformly at multiples of M, and sec ondary frame members extending between the primary frame members, and uniformly coupled thereto by said means, certain of said frame members having cavities with openings 'thereto spaced at multiples of'M, other frame members in registry with said openings and providing recesses, and cementitious material in the interconnected cavitiesand,

recesses of said` members. ,I

8. A building of the type having a frame assembled of manufactured parts and including "frame portions defining walls parallel and atl right angles to each other, comprising structural members in said frame portions, elongate primary frame members in said frame portions and spanning the distance between structural members, the primary frame members each having a plurality of uniformly spaced repetitive apertures therein symmetrically spaced 'from the ends of the members. uniformly spaced connecting means including certain of the apertures adjoining the ends of the frame members and joining the latter to the structural members, the frame members having lengths which diiier from each other and having their apertures uniformly spaced from one another by multiples of a module M, so that their lengths may be integral multiples of M, plus a constant K, the structural members `having portions at and between the ends of said frame members of a cross-sectional dimension lVin the direction of the length ofthe frame members, with the parts so proportionedfthat, when C equals .the spacingof eachA of the frame. members .fromfthe cross-sectional dimension W ofthe structural members, 2C plus W plus K equals an integral multiple of M, secondary lframe members spanning the space between paral- `lel frame members, and connections including apertures on the primary frame members joining the secondary frame members yto the primary frame members, said secondary frame members differing in length from each kother by multiples of thev module M, so that their lengths may be an integral multiple of M ,plus a constant lc, the Aprimary frame mem# v bershaving portions cfa cross-sectional dimension w at and between the ends of the secondary frame members, so that when c equals the spacing of each ofthe secondaryframe members from said portions lof the primary frame members, 2c plus/w, plus le, equalsan integral multiple of M.

SOl

9. A building ofthe typehaving a frame i constructed of parts that Iare manufactured in quantity and preformed to avoid cutting or fashioning in situ, comprising parallel .frame f portions `defining walls and including structural members, a primaryframe member extending between said structural members, an intermediate structural member parallelto structural members of said vframe portions, primary frame members at yright anglesto and-spanning the distances between the intermediate structural member and respective structural membersV in said parallel frame portions, uniformbracket connections joining the frame members to the structural members and holding the ends of the frame members in spaced relationto thelstructural members, kthe frame members having 4lengths which differ from each other by multiples of a module Mthat is of the order of the thickness of said frame portions, so that the respective lengths of the frame members maybe equal to integral multiples of M plus a lconstant lK,

the intermediate structuralmember having a portion between the bracket connections, said portion having a cross-sectional ldimensionl/V in the direction of lengthof the frame members, the parts being so proportioned ythatl when C equals the spacing of each of the frame members fromfsaidportion of the structural member that is between the bracket connections. 2C plus W plus` K equals ani- :bers having portionsbetween the adjacent ends of frame members, said portions having a cross-sectional dimension vW inthe direction of length of the frame members, the partsbeing so proportioned that when C equals the `spacing of each of the framemembers from said portions ofthe structural members at and between the ends of said frame members, 2C plus W plus K equals an integral multiple of M, the structural members alsohaving re- Spective lengths whichdiffer by equal multiples of a module M, ythe central planes 'of parallel vertical and of horizontal walls respectively being spaced at integral multiples of the module M-so that the central planes -of the walls enclosing ythe various rooms of the building define space matrices resolvable into cubesofM. l Y

11. A'building of the type having a frame constructed of: parts that are preformed in quantity to avoid cutting and fashioning in situ, comprising frame members extending along the intersections of wallsin parallel y planes and structural members extending along the intersections of wallsand being at right angles to the frame members, said structural members having portions disposed at and between the ends ofthe frame members, uniform connecting means securing the ends of the frame members to the structural members, the frame members having lengths which differ from each other by equal multiples Vof a module M, so that their respective lengths may be equalto integral multiples of M plus'a constant K, the structural members 'having portions between the adjacent ends of frame members. said portions having a cross-sectional dimension WV in the.V direction Vof length of the frame members. the parts Asaid portions of the structural members at and between the ends-of said frame members, 2C plus W plus K equals an integral multiple of Y, M, the structural members also having respeetive lengths which differlby yequal multiples of a module M, parallel trame members in the same. plane having lon gitudinalcentral axes spaced from each other vat multiples of the module M and certain of said members having repetitive fastening means disposed therealong. said means vbeing spaced from each other lengthwise ofthe frame members at distances which have a uniform common divisor with the module M and being uniformly spaced from said longitudinal axes at equal distances, secondary frame elements eX- tending between parallel frame members and -planes spaced atJ multiples of a module M end of a floor member from the adjoining secured thereto by connections with certain of the fastening means, the fastening means connected to opposite ends of individual sec- -ondary elements being-spaced fromone anmulti les c p lto avoid cutting in situ, comprising parallel.

vertical wall portions having their central from each other, the wall portions being provided with uniform connecting means spaced at multiples of the module M longitudinally of the Walls, and having a cross-sectional dimension 1o adjoining the connecting means, floor members extending between the wall portions and connected thereto by certain of 'said means, the lengths of the floor members diii'ering from each other by multiples of M so that their lengths may equal an integral multiple of M plus a constant k, the wall portions and floor members being arranged so that 2c plus plus w equals an integral multiple of M, when c equals the spacing of the o0 part of a wall portion that has a cross-sectional dimension w.,

13. A building having parallel frame p0rtions defining walls and vincluding parallel structural members, an elongate primary frame member spanning-the distance between structural membersin said parallel frame portions, an intermediate structural member parallel to the structural members in said frame portions, primary frame members at right angles toand spanning the distance between the intermediate structural' member and structural members in said frame portions, uniform connections joining the frame members to the structural members, the frame members having lengths which differ from each other by equal multiples of a module M so that their respective lengths may be equal to integral multiples of M plus a constant K, no the intermediate structural member having a portion at and between the adjacent ends of primary frame members, said portionhavin'g a cross-sectional dimension WV in the direction ofl length of the frame members, the 115 members beingvso proportioned that, when C equals the spacing of each of the frame members from the cross-sectional ldimension of the structural member between the ends of the frame members,i2C plus W plus K 120 equals an integral multiple of M, connecting means upon said primaryA frame members spaced uniformly at multiples of M, secondary frame members extending between parallel primary framevme'mbers and uniformly connected to said means,`and wall plates or members substantially closing the spacesl between said secondary members, eachof said wall members having lwidths which differ 130 from the widths of like members only by integral multiples of said module M. 'W

- l4.l A building of the type having a` fraine constructed of parts that are manufatud 5 in quantity and preformed to avoid cutting or fashioning in situ, comprising parallel frame portions defining outer Walls and intermediate Walls including :parallel girts, Hoor members extending between the girts, o uniform connecting means'joining the ends of the Hoor members to the girts, theintermediate girts each having a cross-sectional dimension lw between the Hoor members, the floor members having lengths differing from y each other by multiplesof amodule M, so that their lengths may each be equal to integral multiples of the module M plus a constant c, the parts being so proportioned and arranged that 20 plus w plus lc equals an integral mul#` o tiple of M, when c equals the spacing of the ends of the ioor members from the girts to which they are connected.

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this 10th day of December, 1929. i ALBERT F. BEMIS. 

